Outstanding! A storm defeated them in 2010. And in 2011, Jorgeson broke his ankle during their second try. But this year, they were ready for the challenge. About a third of the way up, they set up camp — a hanging platform tent tethered to the wall. They rappelled down with ropes to sleep after each night’s grueling climb. They made coffee and sandwiches — whole-wheat bagels with cream cheese, cucumber, red-bell pepper and salami, Jorgeson told National Geographic. Then they set out again. They climbed in the dark, using headlamps to light the way. Climbing during the daytime would be too risky, since the sun would heat the rock, causing their tired hands to sweat and slip from the coin-thick nooks and crannies. Indeed, the climbers had some setbacks along the way. The 15th pitch proved most hopeless for Jorgeson. For seven nights, he fell — eight times, nine times, then 10 times. He texted his girlfriend one word: “Devastated.” … “I’d pull back from the ledge, having split my finger yet again, and then realize I have to take another two rest days. You’re thinking about the timing, the weather, whether or not you’re going to have another chance to do it,” he told National Geographic. “But then, you know, 30 minutes goes by and you’re back to that state of resolve.” On his 11th try Jan. 9, Jorgeson cleared the pitch and, the following night, he was on to the 16th — where he had to make an 8-foot leap from one small, slippery crevasse to another. … mercurynews/california/ci_27314941/yosemite-climbers-just-few-finger-holds-from-history
Posted on: Thu, 15 Jan 2015 22:53:47 +0000
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